Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-04-08
WEATHER FORECASTS.
SOME CURIOUS OLD-TiME METE-
GEOLOGICAL PREDICTIONS.

NuoSss StOThS, SFdhoSs hOEScss shCSP
and Plants are Made to do Service As
Weather Prophets.
Long before Q national weather bureau
| telegraphed all over the country its predic-
tons as to whether tomorrow would be
stormy, showery, cloudy or fine, or Wig
gins began to announcement to come
earthquakes which were to shake a continent,
or cyclones and hurricanes which were to
blow away cities, households were governed
by set of rules in the battles of the ele-
ments These rules are to be found in hand
books published as late as half century
ago, and some of them are very curious
They number nearly POO, some relating to
the movements of clouds and winds, others
70 the appearance OF the sun and moon, and
others to the actions of various animals, in
Guiding insects and birds, and by them the
ancient Virgins foretold when storm was
az hand. Some Of the curious rules, many of
which are still referred to in the conversation
Of everyday life, were as follows:
IL spiders, in spinning their webs, make
the termination filaments long, we may, in
proportion to their length, conclude that the
weather will be severe and continue so for
ten or twelve days.
Ii there are no falling stars to be seen on
bright summers evening, you may look for
fine weather.
Spiders generally alter their web once in
q hours; il they do this between and Z in
the evening there will be fine night; if they
alter their web in the morning, expect line
day: if they work during rain, expect fine
weather; and the more active and busy the
spider is the finer will be the weather.
If many gnats are seen in spring, expect
fine autumn if gnats fly in compact bodies
in the beams Of the setting sun, there will be
fine weather.
If spiders webs fly In the autumn with a
south wind, expect an east wind and fine
weather
If bats futter and beetles fly about there
will be fine morrow.
II owls scream during foul weather il viii
change to fair.
there viii be fine weather.
If the garden spiders break and destroy
their webs and creep away, expect rem or
shOwery weather.
If there he many falling stars on clear
evening in the summer, there VIII be
thunder
Ii the stars above 4j deg, especially the
North star, flicker strongly and appear closer
than usual, there viii be rain
\ rainbow n the morning is the shepherds
warming.
If old and rheumatic people complain Of
their corIis and joints and limbs onco broken
at the place OF their union, there viii be foul
wet weather
If the smoke from chimneys blows down,
or if SCOT take lire moro readily than usual,
or falls down the chimney into the CRATE, ex-
pect rain.
If ditcnes and drains smell stronger than
usual, expect rain; and when tobacco smoke
seems denser All more powerful expect wet
weather
If the marigolds continue shut after
O'Clock i'll the evening, expect rain.
If the cOnvolvulus and chickweed close,
there viii be rain.
If sheep, rams AID goats spring about In
the meadows and fight moro than usual, e1-
pect rain.
II asses shake their ears, bray and rub
against walls and trees. expect rain.
Ii cattle leave OH feeding and chase each
other in their pastures, it viii rain.
If cats lick their bodies and wash their
faces, il viii rain.
If foxes and dogs howl and bark moro
than usual; if dogs grow sleepy and duh,
rain
If swine be restless and grunt loudly; it
they squeak and jerk up their heads, there
the proverb: ~i'igs cen see much wind
If moles cast up hills rain
If horses stretch out their necizs and sniff
4 =. ~ 4
with their heads to leeward, rain.
II rats and Inice be restless it viii rain.
II peacocls and guinea fowls scream and
turkeys gobbie, and if quails make mere
noise than usual, there will be rain.
II sea birds fly toward land and land birds
toward the sea, there viii be rain.
Ii the cock crows more than usual and |
earlier, expect rain.
II swallows fly lower than usual, expect |
rain.
If the crows make great deal Of noise and |
fly round and round, expect rain.
If water fowl scream more than uSl;, ard |
plunge into the WAGER, expect rain.
II birds in general pick their feathers,
wash themselves and fly to their nests, i; win |
rain.
If cranes place their bills under " ings,
rain.
II bees remain in their hives o. fly tut a |
short distance from them, rain.
Ii fish bite moT6 readily and ganlDoi near
the surface OF streams and ponds, rain.
If gnG5s, flies, etc, bite sharper than usual,
expect ram.
II worrns creep out OF the ground il great
expect rain.
IL frogs and toads croak mora than usual,
expect rain.
II the cricilets sing louder than usual, IL
will rain.
Ii the owls screech, death is near end hero
viii be rain
If the SEA anemone shut, and according 70
the extent it opens, so viii the weather bo fine
VI less so.
II porpoises and whales sport about ships,
Expect q hurricane.
II the trefoil contract its leaves, expect
thunder ard heavy rain.
Ii tine mole digs his hole two feet and . half
leep. expect = very severe winter; if two feet
ieep. not SO severe; if one foot deep, u mild
winter
Ii robins approach nesrer houses than
Usual. expect irost; if the ice crack much
he frost VIII continue.
Ii the leaves of the trees move move with
,ut any perceptible wind, rain may be e1-
,ected- Brooklyn Citizen
Carrying Too Much Debt.
no, sir! he did no. die Of pneumonia; he
lied OF bill brokers. sir. He projected 60 IN
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